Apparatus for removing condensate from pipelines



Jan. 9, 1940.

L. G. HOOPER El' AL `APPARATUS `FOR REMOVING CONDENSATE FROM PIPELINESFiled Dec. ll, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l ION Jan. 9, 1940.

L. G. HooPER ET A1. 2,185,923 APPARATUS FOR REMVING CONDENSATE FROMPIPELINES Filed DBC. ll, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l :Juve nio@ PatentedlJan, 9, '1940 APPARATUS FOR.

Hooper, Gordon,

poration of Illinois Tex., Bastian-Blessing Company,

assignors to The Chicago, Ill., a cor- 4' Application December 11,1936,4 Serial No. 115,365A

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a means for removing from a pipeline any liquid which may have become trapped therein. Morespecifically, itv relates to means whereby a gas pipe carryaf ing gasunder pressure may be connected to a means for controlling the escape ofliquid from the pipe without releasing the pressure existing in thepipe, and to a means for controlling the escape of liquid from the pipe.l

In present day practice it is customary to transport gaseous substances,particularlyl natural gas, from one place to another by means of pumpingit through a high pressure pipeI line. Natural gas not only contains acertain amount of vaporized distillate, such as gasoline, etc., but maycontain certain other liquids which upon a chilling of the gas willcondense, and where the gas is being conveyed through a pipe line willcollect upon the walls of the pipe and form pools at low points in thepipe line. It will kreadily be appreciated that if this condensateispermittedto accumulate, it will first restrictthe flow of gas by cuttingdown the cross section of the area available for iiow, and willultimately cause almost a complete stoppage of the pipe line.

'In View vof the lforegoing, it is `an object of this invention toprovide means for removing condensate therefrom, or other desired means30l connected thereto without releasing the pressure existing within thepipe line. Itis a further bject to provide such a means by which thetapped opening may, if desired, be plugged without releasing thepressure from the pipe line. Another object is to provide such a meansby which the means for removing condensate may be shut off from the pipeline.

Another object is to provide a means for removing condensate rom thepipe line, which means will provide for the removalv of the conf densateand at the same time prevent the `wastage of gas from the pipe line. f

Another object is to provide a means for `removing condensate` from apipe line which will operate by virtue of iiuctuations of the pressureexisting within the pipe line. n

-Anotheroloject is to provide a device whereby a line leading from ahigh pressure supply may be plugged or unplugged without opening theline-to the escape of fluid under pressure, and Awhereby the expense ofleaving valves and other equipment on a line to close openings thereinmay be avoided.

, Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingldescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, itbeing understood that such description and draW- ings are by way oillustration only, and not `by way of limitation. This invention is tobe limited only by the prior art, and by the termsv of the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. rl is a view illustrating a vertical'cross sectionthrough'a pipeline having a device forremoving condensate attached thereto` inaccord,- ance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionalI viewvof 'appor-A tion of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an'enlarged vertical cross section lof thecondensate receptacle illustrated in elevation in lFig1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line lIlm-Il ofFig. 3. y Fig. 5 ris Va View partly in vertical cross sectionillustrating the details of the valve shown vin the lower portion ofFig. 3.

Fig. '6 is a horizontal sectional vi along theline lii-lilof Fig. 5. v

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating-'details of the con# nection to apipe lineof a means for removing condensate therefrom. f y Fig.n8 y isan enlargedvertical section View illustrating a'device for plugging and unpluggingthe connection shown in Fig. 7 .without openingthe connection for theescape of ypressure fluid'.

. Fig. 9 is a view illustrating-a slight modification of the deviceshown vin Fig. 8, such modication being for use where' extremelyv highpressures-are encountered. Y f i.

Fg. l() isa horizontal cross section taken along the line lll-I0 of Fig;9. Fig. l1 is a horizontal cross section taken `along the line II-ll ofFig. 9. Y f Fig. 12 is a -view illustrating a slightly modiiied form ofconnection to apipe line for use in connection'with the apparatus shownin Figs.- Ito 7, inclusive. a a s Y Fig. 13'is a horizontal crosssection taken along the line 13e-I3 of Fig. l. y.

In Fig. l1 I have shown a portion of a pipe line I to which is attachedand connected the apparatus for removing condensate from said pipe line,Which apparatusl forms the subjectmatter of the present invention. v Thepipe line l may be provided at its upper portion with an aperture Awhich may be formed in the pipe line by any suitable main tappingapparatus after the pipe line hasbeen installed, and without loss ofpressure or contents fromthe pipe line. A fitting or nipple 2 surroundsthc aperture A in the ew taken' UNITED STATES PATY'ENT OFFICE pipe line,and said tting may be provided with a tapered terminal portion 5 seatingwithin an annular groove B provided in the exterior surface of the pipeand concentrically disposed with respect to the aperture A. The nippleor fitting 2 is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 3 for apurpose to be presently described. Above the shoulder 3 and in spacedrelation thereto the fitting 2 is provided with projecting lugs or pinsLi. The lugs 4 may be engaged by a suitable turning tool to rotate theiitting 3 as it is being drawn into position within the groove B bymeans to be presently described, in order to insure a gas-tight fit ofthe tapered end 5 within said groove.

Loosely mounted upon the nipple or fitting 2 and abutting the shoulder 3is an apertured plate member 8, said plate being provided with a centralaperture to receive the body of the nipple 2 and with slots I@ (see Fig.13) to receive the lugs 4 and to facilitate passage of the plate memberover the upper end of the nipple and lugs, into seating relation uponthe upper surface of the shoulder 3. The plate 8 at opposite ends hassecured thereto strap members 9 which terminate in lugs or ears thelatter being provided with apertures or bores to receive screwthreadedbolt members l2 carried by a complemental section of band I3. Thus, asclearly shown in Fig. l, the band member I3 in conjunction with thebands 9 carried by the plate 8; embrace the pipe member I, and by meansof the cooperating bolts |2 and earsV I |,'the band members 9 and I3 maybe drawn tightly about the -pipe by nuts lli screw-threaded upon theends of the bolts I2 projecting beyond the upper ends' of the ears |I.By thus tightly drawing the bands 9 and I3 about the pipe, the nipple 2may be-secured in gas-tight relation Within the groove B, as shown.

The fitting 2 when thus attached to the pipe linei provides means forattaching to said pipe the condensate removing apparatus now to bedescribed. The iitting 2 at its upper end is interiorly screw-threadedto receive a suitable threaded bushing 1|. The bushing 'II is providedwith a threaded opening extending entirely therethrough as shown at '14,and adapted to receive the tubing section 15. This tubing section isprovided with threads 'I6 adjacent its upper endfor'threadedly engagingthe threads '|4, and the lower end thereof is externally smooth soas topass freely through this opening in the bushing 1I. Mounted on the upperend of the bushing II is av packing member I'I adapted to be compressedby a nut 'i8 also threaded on the threaded section 16 of the tubing 15.This packing member H is for the purpose of positively preventing theleakage through the bushing past the threads 'I4 and T6. At its upperend, the tubing I5 is threaded internally as shown at 'I9 to receive aplug 00. The upper end of the tubing section 'I5 is also threadedexternally to receive one arm of the T-tting 8|. To the other arm ofthis T-iitting is threaded a bushing 82, this bushing being threadedinternally at its lower end to receive the plug member 80.

Laterally positioned with respect to the threaded opening 'I4 throughthe bushing 'II is another opening having a check valve 83 thereinadapted to prevent upward flow through the bushing. This valve 83 isprovidedV with a seat member 84 against which it may seat to preventsuch upward iiow. The opening above the valve is tapped to receive aline 85 for a purpose to be presently set forth.

A 'l' connection 8| is then placed in position on the upper end of thetubing section I5 with the bushing 82 threaded into its upper end. Inaddition to its internal threads 86, the bushing is provided withexternal threads at its upper end for the reception of a collar B'I towhich is secured a special tting 88 having a lateral branch 89 thereonconnected with a bleeder valve St. At its upper end, this specialfitting is adapted to receive a packing nut 9| for securing in place andcompressing a packing 92 about the shaft S3 of a wrench member. Thiswrench member may be rotated in any desired manner as by a hand wheel94, and its lower end is constructed in the manner to be presentlydescribed.

In Fig. 9 there is illustrated a slight modication of this equipment inwhich a ring 95 is threadedly engaged with the exterior of the specialfitting 38' below the packing nut 9|, and to this ring 95 is secured ayoke-like member 9G by means of screws 8l or the like. At its upper end,this yoke-like member is formed with an inwardly extending annularflange 98 adapted to engage a groove formed in a knurled nut 99. Thisnut is internally threaded to receive a bushing |00 which in turncarries a set screw 0| for engaging notches |02 in the modied shaft |03of the wrench herein disclosed.

The lower end of this shaft is formed in the same manner as the shaft 93shown in Fig. 8, and has a groove |04 within which is positioned aspring member |05, the lower end of which extends outwardly as shown at|06. This lower end, it will be seen, can be moved inwardly andoutwardly by nger pressure upon an intermediate portion of the spring|05. The lower end of the shaft |03 is formed with a square or othernon-circular cross section |01, and the upper endv is similarly formedat |08.

The tubing line 85 which has been previously referred to isy alsoconnected to the bushing II in the opening provided therefor, and at itsoppositeV end is secured to the leg of a special T-tting |l0. Within oneof the branches of this tting there is provided a valve seat III whichis preferably of rubber or some similar substance. This valve-seat isadapted to receive a valve member ||2 which is normally heldthereagain'st by a spring 3. The other leg of the 'tting is providedwith a plug ||4 which serves as an abutment for the end of the spring H3opposite the valve element I I2. It will be seenthat this valve elementII2 acts in the same direction as the valve element 83, and serves toprevent now from the pipe line through the tubing line 85 whilepermitting flow in the opposite direction.

Connected to the leg of the T-Iitting 8| there is also a special fittingIIO" within which is positioned a valve seat III likewise preferably ofrubber or some' like material. The valve ||2 is adapted to seat againstthis valve seat, and is urged to such seated position by means of aspring IIS abutting atits opposite end against a plug H4. This specialtting is connected by means of a union I5 to a pipe I |6 leading to thereceptacle II'I for the purpose of receiving the condensate from thepipe line. It is to be noted that the valve i |2, unlike the valves 83and ||2, is so disposed as to permit passage only from the pipe linetoward the receptacle IIT. It is also noted that the tubing section 'I5to which the valve ||2 and the pipe 6 are connected ex- 7| Within thereceptacle II'! will bleed back through the valves ||2 and 83, andthrough the tubing line 85 into the pipe linek thus reducing thepressure in the receptacle |l to a value'equivalent to that existing inthe pipe line. When the ressure in the pipe line again rises, moreliquid will be forced from the lower portion thereof in the manner justdescribed, and this process will continueV until substantially allliquid has been removed from the pipe line. When no more liquid remainswithin the pipe line, a rise of pressure within the pipe line willsimply force certain quantity of gas into the receptacle l Il to buildup the pressure therein, and when the pressure falls, this gas will lowback through the line 85 into the pipe line so that no gas will be lost.The equipment will thus remove liquid from the pipe line as long as anyliquid remains therein, but when no liquid is prese'nt in the pipe line,no gas I will be lost therefrom.

; |34 will be moved from its seat so as to permit the pressure existingwithin the receptacle il? to force the liquid out through the port |3lland the tubing E20 until the float again falls to a position where thisvalve will be closed. If at any time it is desired to removesubstantially all of the liquid from the receptacle Hl, this may be doneby simply rotating the handle S25 to move the plug |26 downwardly to aposition below the openings l28. Liquid will then be forced in throughthese openings and out through the tubing |25 until substantially allthe liquid has been removed from the receptacle l'i. It is to be notedthat if so desired, after the plug has been located in the positionshown in Fig. 18, the rod |24 may be removed from the tubing E2G and aplug substituted for the bushing 23, thus preventing unauthorizedpersons from moving the plug |25 downwardly and opening the receptacle,thus subsequently rendering the equipment inoperative.

Wit-h reference to the float proper, it noted that this float will be atall ti es substantially free from any liquid present therein, because ofthe arrangement of the valves heretofore (fescrbed. As previously noted,the pressure in the receptacle Hl will iluctuate. Let .suppose that someliquid has entered the float |45 either because of condensation from thetherein, or because of some leak existing in the float. As the pressurerises in the receptacle l il', a small portion I the gas will enterthrough the valve IM and increase the pressure within iloat |45. Then asthe pressure falls within the receptacle l l l, the higher pressure inthe lioat M5 will force the liquid present in thu lower part of thisiloat out through the valve iEil. This process will be repeated as oftenas the fluctuations in the receptacle l il' occur, and it will be seenthat the iioat will be at all times substantially free from any liquidtherein.

lIt after the connection of a device such as above described forremoving condensation from a pipe line, it be found that the device nolonger required because of the absence of further condensation, or if itbe desired to detach and repair the device, the tubing section 'i5 maybe closed by connecting thereto the equipment shown in e her Fig.` 8 orFig. 9. If the pressure within pipe line is not too great, the equipmentshown Fig. 8 will be employed because of its greater simplicity. Withthis equipment, it is simply necessary to connect the various parts asshown in Fig. 3, and to rotate the handle 94 to the right until the pluglill is disengaged from the bushing 32, after which it is pusheddownwardly and engaged with the upper end of the tubing section l5. Itis then tightened to close the tubing section, and any or all of theequipment connected to the tubing section may be removed.

If an extremely high pressure exists Within the pipe line such that itwould be dilcult or impossible to force the rod 93 of Fig. 8 downwardlywhen the plug 8i! is disengaged from the bushing 82, the equipment shownin Fig. 9 will be employed. With this equipment. the plug is screweddownwardly in the same manner as with the equipment of Fig. 8, but whenit has been disengaged from the bushing 82, and is being heldthereagainst by the pressure within the pipe line, the nut Sid will berotated to move the bushing |80 until the set screw IGl is opposite oneof the notches |92 in the rod |53. The set screw will then be tightenedto engage such notch, after which the nut S9 will be rotated in adirection to force the bushing i El) and the rod l downwardly againstthe pressure existing within the pipe line. By this means the plug Bilcan be moved downwardly to a suiiicient extent to cause it to enter thethreaded upper end of the tubing section l5, and after it has beenstarted, it will be tightened in the same manner as previouslydescribed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an apparatus has been providedwhereby a pipe line .having pressure therein may have means con-- nectedthereto for automatically removing from the pipe line any condensate orother liquid which may gather therein. Provision has been made forautomatically and manually purging the receptacle for such condensate,and connection with the means for automatically purging the receptaclethere has been provided a float which will constantly purge itself oiany liquid contained therein. A plugging valve has also been providedfor fully opening or plugging a conduit from such pipe line or the likewithout permitting escape of fluid therefrom or losing control of thepressiue therein.

It will thus be appreciated that in the foregoing description and in theaccompanying drawings there is set forth ono embodiment of thisinvention whereby all of the objects and advantages sought by thisinvention niay be obtained.

Having described our invention, we claim:

l. In a device for removing huid from a incinber having a fluctuatinggas pressure therein, and having a closed receptacle for the liquid tobe removed, a conduit leading from the lower portion oi' said member tosaid receptacle, one-way val'v'e nic-ans therein for preventing flowtherethrough from said receptacle 'to the member while permitting ilowfrom said member to receptacle, a conduit leading from ie upper portionof said receptacle to the upper portion of said member, and one-wayvalve means in said last nentioned conduit for permitting iowtherethrough only toward said member.

2. In a device for re'-'\oving liquid from a member having a fluctuatinggas pressure therein, and having a closed receptacle for the liquid,means for conducting liquid from the bottom portion of said member tosaid receptacle when the pressure in said member rises, means forconducting a gas from said receptacle to said member when the pressurein said member falls, and means for preventing back flow in both of saidconducting means.

- 3. In a device for removing liquid from a memclosed receptacle for theliquid, means for con-k ber having a fluctuating gas pressure therein, aducting fluid from the bottom portion of said closed receptacle for theliquid, means for conmember to said receptacle when the pressure inducting fluid from the bottom portion of said said member rises, meansfor conducting a gas 5 member to said receptacle `When the pressure infrom said receptacle to said member when the 5 said member rises, meansfor conducting gas pressure in said member falls, means for preventfromsaid receptacle to said member when the ing back flow in both of saidconducting means, pressure in said member falls, means for preventmeansfor closing said rst mentioned conducting ing back flow in both of saidconducting means, means against flow in either direction at a point 10and means for closing said rst mentioned conadjaeent said member, andmeans for actuating 10 ducting means against fioW in either direction atsaid last mentioned means and for preventing a point adjacent saidmember. escape of pressure during such actuation.

4. In a device for removing vliquid from a mem'- LOUIS G. HOOPER.

ber having a fluctuating gas pressure therein, a VIRGIL I. HOOPER.

